IN a chance encounter just across the border in India NEAF Executive Director Ashok Chaudhari was approached by a field representative of Aikawa International Education, an International NGO working in India to provide higher education in IT in rural areas of India for the poor. The founders of Aikaiwa, recently renamed Galaxy Aikawa http://aiegalaxyindia.com/ are interestingly enough Madam Yogmata Kumari Keiko Aikawa a Japanese Hindu yogini and her fellow Indian yogi Pilot Baba. With minimal investment from NAEF and investment and support mainly in teaching materials from Aikawa, NAEF established the first "international" Aikawa institute in Bhairahawa, Nepal in October 2008. The course is for one year and students attend daily insturctional classes and nearly equal amount of practical time in NEAF's computer lab. The total fee, including books for the year is just under 40 USD payable in four installments.

Photo 1: Ashok standing in front of the very humble NAEF/Aikawa IT Institute in September 2008.

Demand has been tremendous and the second semester batch has just started. Both 1st and 2nd semesters batches are nearly full (4 semesters in the one year program). Ashok concurred that the majority of students come from rural poor and disadvangaged backgrounds who could not afford more expensive but similar courses. Ideally they will leave with basic entry levels computer and MS software skills.

Photo 2: IT Institutes signboard with photos of Yogmata Kumari Keiko Aikawa and Pilot Baba.

NAEF is interested in finding funding for scholarships for deserving but those who cannot afford even this low fees.